The worst kept secret in football saw Ian Holloway finally unveiled as QPR boss - the fourth in just over a year.

The man who served the club as player in the 1990s and between 2001-06 as manager has put pen to paper on a two-and-a-half year contract at Loftus Road.

After he left Rangers with a promotion under his belt from League One, he won promotions from the Championship to the Premier League with both Blackpool in 2010 and Crystal Palace.

He laid bare his first priority - to galvanise a misfiring squad.

“I feel honoured, privileged and proud,” he told the club's official website. “It's a huge moment for me and I am delighted to be back here.

Smiling Ol: Ian Holloway

“I feel this is the right time for me. I feel like I'm back home now and I can't wait to get started.”

He added: “I care deeply for this football club and I want to help Les, Lee and our wonderful owners create something we can all be proud of.

“Does anyone know this club better than me? Probably not. Has it changed much? Maybe. But I know what it means to everyone out there.

“People would die for this club – and I want our players to show that in their performance, and our fans to show them that they care about the players as much as I will do as their manager.

“My job is to try and help this squad improve and create an environment that the players can succeed in, especially at Loftus Road, where the fans love to see players express themselves.

“I want to try and galvanise this squad and make my owners smile. Hopefully this is the start of something here.”

Praise: Les Ferdinand

Director of Football, Les Ferdinand, welcomed Holloway: “It’s an exciting appointment for the football club and one I am sure the supporters will fully embrace," he added.

“Ian is QPR through and through and knows both what it takes and what it means to manage this club.

“He knows the club inside-out, but more importantly than that, he knows the Championship inside-out.

"He’s managed hundreds of games at this level and has enjoyed great success too.

“We’re absolutely delighted to have him on board.”